Railroad car axle journal boxes



K. A. KLINGLER RAILROAD CAR AXLE JOURNAL BOXES July 9, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet l /4 A; H INVENTOR. /%r/ 1 n hy/m BY park) [far/er ,if/omeys.

Filed July 12, 1961 K. A. KLINGLER RAILROAD CAR AXLE JOURNAL BOXES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 D? 1. HE

arlllll'illlll nrf/ I!!! @n m l) I N V EN TOR. /%r/ Way/a5 0% [far/4r Xf/amgm July 9, 1963 Filed July 12, 1961 I!!! L K i u hw United States Patent Gil-ice 3,097,025 Patented July 9, 1963 3,097 ,025 RAILRGAD CAR AXLE JOURNAL BOXES Karl A. Klingler, 111 S. Wright St., Naperville, Ill. Filed July 12, 1961, Ser. No. 123,984 13 Claims. Cl. 308-41) My invention relates to improvements in railroad car axle journal boxes and has for one object to provide means within the box to maintain the journal in proper working position in the box.

Another object is to provide means for limiting both axial and radial movement of the journal in the box in order to prevent disengagement of the sealing means from the sealing surface of the journal.

Another object is to provide means for holding in proper position and proper relation with the journal in the box the wedge and the brass.

Other objects will appear from time to time throughout the specification and claims.

The invention is illustrated diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein FlGURE 1 is a longitudinal section through the journal box along the line 1--1 of FIGURE 3 with parts in elevation;

FIGURE 2 is a section along the line 22 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a section along the line 33 of FIG- URE 1 with parts in full;

FIGURE 4 is a section along the line 4-4 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 5 is an exploded view showing in detail the members shown in FIGURE 1.

Like parts are indicated by like numerals throughout the specification and drawings.

The journal box 1 is open at both ends. The inboard end of the box is defined by two spaced parallel walls 2, 3, each centrally apertured to permit the axle 4 to enter the box. The dust well 5 is defined between the walls 2 and 3 in the usual manner. The opening or outboard port at the other end of the box is closed by the sealed cover 6. The journal 7 is located within the box and sup ports the brass 8, the wedge 9. These elements are all conventional, well known in the art, with the single exception that the journal 7 is cylindrical to the end, the usual collar or flange being omitted and the cover 6 is permanently held in place as will hereinafter appem.

Fixed rigid Wall bosses 11) are definited by inward channeling of the opposite vertical walls of the box. In the box on both sides of the box between the bosses 10 and the wall 2 are located stop pad-s 11. The stop pads in this instance are shown as composed of rubber or at least an elastorneric material and contain a core 12 which provides threaded holes for cap screws 13. Although the stop pads have been illustrated as composed of a rubberlike material, it will be understood that the invention should not be so limited. Under appropriate circumstances it might be entirely feasible to utilize stop pads of metal such as brass or of a combination of materials such as elastomeric material and brass. The stop pads 11 extend inwardly beyond the bosses 10 so that radial displacement of the journal is arrested by contact with the stop pad or block 11.

The stop pads 11 are held in place by cap screws 13, the walls of the box being drilled to permit them to penetrate the box and be threaded in the reinforcing cores 12 to hold the stop pads in place. The surrounding struct-ure also helps to hold the pads in place.

The cores 12 are apentured to receive the opposite ends 14 of the keeper spring. The two ends 14 of the spring extend horizontally from their socketing in the cores 12 along a line generally parallel to and at about the same level as the axis of the journal to terminate adjacent the outboard end of the journal in upwardly extending members 15 which in turn terminate in the cross member 16, downwardly looped at 17 to interlock with the socket 18 in the wedge 9. The spring ends 14 are also downwardly looped intermediate their ends as at 19 to support a hanger 20 which may carry a lubricator, not shown, suspended below the journal.

lust within the outboard opening in the journal box is a removable axle stop assembly which includes a cradle 21 and a flanged lug contacting member 22 overlying the top and articulated with the cradle. The members 21 and 22 are recessed in opposition to one another to define a socket which contains an elastomeric pad or thrust hearing 21a. The cradle 21 and member 22 are flexibly joined together by a screw 24 which passes through the pad and engages both the members so that 21 and 22 are free to move with respect to one another. The flanged member 22 engages the inner face of lugs 23 integral with the journal box. The member 22 has an inwardly extending flange 23a which facilitates assembly of the thrust bearing in its articulated relationship with members 21 and 22. The cradle 21 extends downwardly from its articulated point on pad 21a across the opening in the journal box and carries a lug or abutment 25 which engages the inner wall of the journal box below the outboard opening. An elastomeric cushion or stop pad 26 is socketed in the end stop frame cradle 21, being held in place by screw and nut 27 and the cover plate 28, all in line with the outboard end of the journal. The cradle is held in place against radial movement by the adjusting screws 29 which after the cradle is inserted and before the door 6 is closed, are tightened and locked and secured to engage the opposite walls of the journal box and inhibit horizontal lateral movement.

When this assembly has been completed, screws 30 passing through apertures in the cover 6 are threaded into the oppositely extended integral flanges 31 on opposite sides of the cradle 21 and tightened up. This holds the cover 6 closed and locks the cradle in position.

The entire expanded area of the cradle including the area covered by the screws 29 is of course larger than the port through which the cradle is inserted by because the cradle, disregarding the screws 29 is small, the cradle can be inserted, the screws then turned to make a tight fit. Thus by this assembly excessive longitudinal or axial movement of the journal is inhibited by the radial and axial stops which of course are spaced from the journal enough to permit freedom of action Without permitting displacement of the seal from the journal.

The journal is cylindrical from the shoulder 32 to its end. No collar is needed on the end of the journal. The collar has heretofore been needed to limit axial movement of journal with respect to the brass but in this case axial movement of the journal is limited by the axial stop 28 and the collar may be omitted. The wedge is held in place by the brass keeper spring 14 to 17 inclusive. Thus no collar on the end of the journal is needed, which results in the advantage that the radial axial stop pads 11 can be fastened before the box is assembled.

The only changes in the conventional type of journal box necessary are to drill holes in the walls of the journal box to receive cap screws 13 and in the cap 6 to receive the screws 30.

The wedge 9 has an extension 33 which normally abuts against the flange 22. The wedge may rock and is free to move slightly longitudinally in the journal box and thus clearance remains between the extension 33 and the lug 23 in the flange 22. The wedge rides on the brass 8 which in turn rides on and is free to move axially with respect to the journal 7. The flange 34 on the brass is in line with the end of the wedge, there being suflicient clearance, however, so that axial movement of the journal is limited by spring 44 on the cover.

contact with the axle thrust bearing 28 that is the cover plate thereof. Axial movement of the brass toward the outer end of the journal is inhibited by the cooperation of flange 34 and wedge. Axial movement in the opposite direction is limited by contact of the brass with the shoulder 32 where the journal 7 is decreased in diameter with respect to the axle 4.

The cylindrical portion of the axle 4 where it enters the box is in line with the dust well 5 and that dust well may well be used as a pocket for an oil seal. The ring 35 may be shrunk or forced into the member 4 to build up the diameter to a standard size, different size rings being used for different size axle so that the effective diameter of each axle as presented to the dust guard in the well will be uniform.

The cover is additionally held in place by the screw 40 threaded in the aperture 41 in the upper portion of the cradle 21 so that the cover is held in place at three points around its periphery, thus providing smooth contact and holding the cover against displacement. If the cover were hinged at the upper end as is sometimes the case, the screw 40 might be dispensed with.

Extending outwardly from the cover is a boss 42 in which is inserted a dip stick 43 held in place by a snap The dip stick extends inwardly below the cradle 21 and may be withdrawn for inspection. Any suitable means may be used for holding the dip stick 1 43 in place.

I claim:

1. In combination, a ported railroad car axle journal box, a door therefor, a flange extending downwardly from the top of the box inside the port,an end stop frame in contact with the flange at its upper end and means for holding them together, an abutment at the lower end of the frame adapted to engage the wall of the box below the port and means for holding the frame in position with the abutment tight. against the inner wall of the box.

2. In combination, a ported railroad car axle journal box, a door therefor, a flange extending downwardly from the top of the box inside the port, an end stop frame in contact with the flange at its upper end and means for box, a door therefor, a flange extending downwardly from the top of the box inside the port, an end stop frame in contact with the flange at its upper end and means for holding them together, an abutment at the lower end of the frame adapted tofengage the wall of the box below the port and means for holding the frame in position with the abutment tight again'st'the inner wall of the box, said means including screws passing through the door and downwardly and inwardly inclined toward threaded relationship with the frame.

6. In combination with a ported railroad car axle journal box, a collapsible car journal end stop assembly, which when collapsed is smaller than the port, means adjacent the top of the assembly for holding it in position in the box, expanding means forming part of the assembly which when expanded are larger than the port and contact the opposite vertical side walls of the box.

7. In combination with a ported railroad car axle journal box, a collapsible car journal end stop assembly,

which when collapsed is smaller than the port, means bly which when expanded are larger than the port and contact the opposite vertical side walls of the box, and abutment adjacent the bottom of the assembly adapted to contact the end wall of the box below the port.

holding them together, an abutment at the lower end of the frame adapted to engage the wall of the box below the port and means for holding the frame in position with the abutment tight against the inner wall of the box, means for applying a tension between the door and the frame to seat the door on the box to close the port and seat the abutment on the inner wall of the box to hold the frame in position.

3. In combination, a ported railroad car axle journal box, a door therefor, a flange extending downwardly from the top of the box inside the port, an end stop frame in contact with the flange at its upper end and means for holding them together, an abutment at the lower end of the frame adapted to engage the wall of the box below the port and means for holding the frame in position with the abutment tight against the inner wall of the box, horizontal screws threaded in the frame extending laterally therefrom in opposite directions, means for adjusting them to contact the opposite inner vertical walls of the box.

4. In combination, a ported railroad car axle journal box, a door therefor, a flange extending downwardly from the top of the box inside the port, an end stop frame in contact with the flange at its upper end and means for holding them together, an abutment at the lower end of the frame adapted to engage the wall of the box below the port and means for holding the frame in position with the abutment tight against the inner wall of the box, means for applying a tension between the door and the frame to seat the door on the box to close the port and seat the abutment on the inner wall Of the box to hold the frame in position, horizontal screws threaded in the frame extending laterally therefrom in opposite directions, means for adjusting them to contact the opposite inner vertical walls of the box.

5. In combination, a ported railroad car axle journal 8. In combination with a ported railroad car axle journal box. a collapsible car journal end stop assembly, which when collapsed is smaller than the port, means adjacent the top of the assembly for holding it in position in the box, expanding means forming part of the assembly which when expanded are larger than the port and contact the opposite vertical side walls of the box, an abutment adjacent the bottom of the assembly adapted to contact the end wall of the box below the port, a pivoted door for the port and means for exerting a tension between the door and the assembly to hold the door in" seated position and hold the abutment snugly against the box wall and seal.

9. In combination, a ported car axle journal box, an end stop frame removably anchored in the journal box adjacent the top thereof, extending downwardly therefrom across the port, an abutment thereon adapted to engage the inner wall of the box below the port, an end stop pad carried by the frame in register with a railroad car axle journal in the box, a pivoted door adapted to close the port and means extending through the door adapted to apply a tension tending to hold the frame against the wall of the box and the door on the box, in

sealing position.

10. In combination, a ported car axle journal box, an

end stop frame removably anchored in the journal box adjacent the top thereof, extending downwardly therefrom across the port, an abutment thereon adapted to engage the inner wall of the box below the port, an end stop pad carried by the frame in register with a railroad car axle journal'in the box, a pivoted door adapted to close the port and means extending through the door adapted to apply a tension tending to hold the frame against the wall of the box and the door seated on the box, the end stop pad being free to move angularly with respect to the journal box.

11. In combination, a ported railroad car axle journal box, a door therefor, a flange extending downwardly from the top of the box inside the port, an end stop frame in contact with the flange at its upper end and means for holding them together, an abutment at the lower end of the frame adapted to engage the wall of the box below the port and means for holding the frame in position with the abutment tight against the inner wall of the box, horizontal screws threaded in the frame extending laterally therefrom in opposite directions, means for adjusting them to contact the opposite inner vertical walls of the box, the end top frame comprising two members articulated to permit angular displacement of a part of the frame while another part remains in contact with the flange.

12. In combination, a ported railroad car axle journal box, a door therefor, a flange extending downwardly from the top of the box inside the port, an end stop frame in contact with the flange at its upper end and means for holding them together, an abutment at the lower end of the frame adapted to engage the wall of the box below the port and means for holding the frame in position with the abutment tight against the inner wall of the box, horizontal screws threaded in the frame extending lateral- 1y therefrom in opposite directions, means for adjusting them to contact the opposite inner vertical wall of the box, the end top frame comprising two members articulated to permit angular displacement of a part of the frame while another part remains in contact with the flange, the rubber pad interposed between the two articulated members.

13. In combination, a railroad car axle terminating in a journal, a journal box open at its outboard end enclosing the journal, a brass and a wedge interposed between the journal and the top of the box, elastomeric stop pads fixed in position on the inner opposed vertical side Walls of the box, in opposition to and normally out of contact with the surface of the journal, extending upwardly on opposite sides of wedge and brass and holding them against horizontal displacement, a closure for the open end of the box, a stop pad carried thereby within the box in opposition to the end of the journal.

Magee May 27, 1902 Piron Sept. 3, 1940 

1. IN COMBINATION, A PORTED RAILROAD CAR AXLE JOURNAL BOX, A DOOR THEREFOR, A FLANGE EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM THE TOP OF THE BOX INSIDE THE PORT, AN END STOP FRAME IN CONTACT WITH THE FLANGE AT ITS UPPER END AND MEANS FOR HOLDING THEM TOGETHER, AN ABUTMENT AT THE LOWER END OF 